there's a age limit to being a kpop idol?

[sukui_]

they have to be teens to 20s only is that why kpop stans call s.e.s old even theough their only in 30s ..beyonce same age 

Edited October 6, 2019 by sukui_

[coval]

Ses only seem old because they’re first generation 

No one calls fx old when they had a member that was 32

[LilVelvet]

I think girls can debut later than boys due to the lack of military requirement, but usually only visuals or extremely talented trainees will get that opportunity past like...21. It's sad. 

But this isn't uncommon for western pop stars either, so I don't get the Beyoncé comparison. Age of debut:

• Shakira - 14
• Janet Jackson - 16
• Britney Spears - 17
• Beyoncé - 17
• Lady Gaga - 22

Are you referring to the shelf life of idols? Like longevity? I think it's common in general for pop groups to have an expire date. If anything Korean groups tend to outlast global groups. A 7 year promotional run is seen as short for a Korean group, but reaching 5 is an accomplishment alone in the west.

[Bluebells and Snowdrops]

For male idols, there is the issue of military service. Therefore it is probably best, at least for male idols, to debut pretty early, so they can get a footing in the industry before enlisting. Or to get their enlistment over with before debuting, so that it won’t be a problem.

[Gene_e]

Queen Kahi debuted when she was 29 and that dude from g.o.d was 30 when he made his debut. There are always exceptions.

[D'Arco]

Theres literally no limit. 

[Drama Drama Drama]

Bc military boys can debut until 22 years.

Girls can debut until 23 years. Kahi case isn't possible in 2019.

Edited October 6, 2019 by Drama Drama Drama

[Gene_e]

10 hours ago, Drama Drama Drama said:

Bc military boys can debut until 22 years.

Girls can debut until 23 years. Kahi case isn't possible in 2019.

Pretty sure there are idols older than that debuting these days. GWSN Miya debuted last year when she was  25,  in ONEUS debuted this year and they have members that are 24 and 23, they are just the first names that come to my mind. I'm sure there are more.

Edited October 6, 2019 by Gene_e

[Adds]

I heard that the universal debut cut off for most mid tier/big agencies is 23 (Korean Age, so current 1997 liner) Ideal debut age is 21-18 (current 1999-2002 liner)

That being said, there is idols debuting over that, this year for example:

Verivery leader is 1995, ONEUS has members in 1995/1996, Cherry Bullet Haeyoon is 1996.

Other cases from this year are found in 1TEAM, BVNDIT, D1CE, Fanatics... etc.

 

[A Hamster Named Loneliness]

23 hours ago, D'Arco said:

Theres literally no limit. 

there is a limit when it comes to auditioning, though. Pretty much all companies have an age limit on who they accept auditions from. So like, even if I wanted to try auditioning, I wouldn't be able to because I'm 29 and companies only want people born from a certain year and later auditioning. For example, the Big Hit Global audition posters that I've seen at The Source in Buena Park, CA only accepts auditions from those born in 1999 or later. 

Edited October 7, 2019 by Spring By Chance

[My Everything]

I mean guess but a male 89 liner debuted recently with k Tigers zero 
 

[TheBestGuest]

I think that the older you are, especially female idols, means you have a less likely chance of debuting. Of course, there are exceptions. Irene, Solar, Bom, Dara, were all a little older than what we typically see when they debuted. Also, like others have said, with male idols comes the issue of mandatory military service so they're more likely to debut at a younger age so they can try to make a name of themselves before enlistment.

[abra]

3/4 of BEG are 37 or 38... and they'll have a CB later this month. Now you could argue they're idols or not.

[adda]

Knowing the Korean obsession with "pure love", "innocence" , "childish behavior" and " whiney mini-tantrums", I think is better for idols to debut in their teens or early 20s.  It would look badder to fake all these when you are older, than to fake them when you are a teen.

 

[Unfair_]

i think there is no limit you're already in the industry and have a long career and public like shinhwa, tvxq, beg, super junior...

but like i dont think you can DEBUT over 30 years old, that's not really happening.

[Pyron]

I imagine with technology advancing fast if we don't blow up ourselves, eventually we will have 10000 years idols

But being serious, of course the older you are, the less chance you have to debut. As for lasting career, only a few may survive past 30s and maybe pushing 40s in case of male idols. Fans get older as well and some may be really loyal. An idol just need a substantial amount of them. Still it's the exception for the "rules". As Kpop gets more and more mature, it will be more systematic as well with fewer exceptions.